"Sex offenders in our system of higher education are a harsh reality," said State Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, who sponsored legislation that funded the effort. "Helping to provide Florida's students the most efficient tools to identify and inform themselves about potential threats in their lives was a logical next step for me."

In almost all cases, the identified offenders were students, not employees.

The site lists 11 offenders on Miami Dade College, four at Broward College and nine at Palm Beach State. Colleges say they've always collected the information, which has been available for public inspection.

"The new online search offers a more convenient way to access the information," said Grace Truman, a spokeswoman for Palm Beach State.

Truman said all registered sex offenders must notify the campus dean of student services each semester of their intent to register. Students may be restricted from certain campus activities, depending on the severity of their offense and probationary restrictions, Truman said.

Broward College generally enrolls known sex offenders into online programs if there are no restrictions on their use of email or the Internet, spokeswoman Aileen Izquierdo said.

The registry lists two sex offenders at Florida Atlantic University, two at Nova Southeastern University, one at Florida International University, one at Lynn University in Boca Raton and none at the University of Miami and Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach.